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2002 Chevy Venture 3.4L Coolant Leak

8 messages,  Last post on Jan 09, 2011 at 3:18 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Van

Messages Page 2 of 2

#5 of 8 2001 chevy malibu w/ 2001 chevy venture 3.4l in it by awil28

Sep 30, 2010 (12:00 pm)

Hey everyone, im hoping i could get a little insight on a car im working on. I purchased the car and the seller told me it had started overheating and acting like the head gasket was starting to go bad but not blown, there was never any oil-coolant contamination, and he gave me the full gasket set for the engine with the car. I drove the car home, had to stop twice to add coolant because it was all pouring out the coolant overflow, and then tore the engine down. The head gaskets did not look that bad, the lower intake gaskets looked ok, and the upper intake gaskets looked like crap. I replaced all of them since i had them, also replaced the following, spark plugs (gapped .060), plug wires, thermostat, coolant resevoir lid, power steering pump, valve cover gaskets, pcv valve, throttle body gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets and bolts, fuel injector o-rings, air filter, and oil/ oil filter. After i did all this i put the engine back together and started it up, it started right up but is not idling smooth and also is still spitting all the coolant back out the overflow. Ive flushed the system and burped it 3 times for 45 minutes each time and it still does it. I also ran a compression test and got 130psi from 5 cylinders and 120psi on the #5 cylinder those numbers sound low but im not sure what they are supposed to read. Also the small vacuum tube connected to the pcv valve is collapsing when the engine is idling and the engine seems like its stalling out. Ive had suggestions that the heads where warped and now i need to redo the head gaskets, the heater core is bad, something is wrong in the vacuum system, and the water pump is bad. So with all this info can anyone tell me what it sounds like im hoping i dont need to redo the head gaskets but that looks like where its heading. Thank you to anyone that helps.

#6 of 8 01 montana intake gaskets by willy30

Jan 09, 2011 (11:04 am)

Hi, I've recently had the intake gaskets replaced, 200,000 kms/162,000 miles. I was smelling the coolant in the cab and could see some leaking on the engine. Works great, like new except there is a reduction of fuel mileage from 33-34mpg to 29-30. Mechanic does not have any ideas.
Anyone out there encounter same?

#7 of 8 Re: 01 montana intake gaskets [willy30] by neustkg

Jan 09, 2011 (11:21 am)

Replying to: willy30 (Jan 09, 2011 11:04 am)
Wow! How were you getting 33-34mpg? At best on the highway we got something like 30-31mpg but that was when we were keeping the speed between 65-70mph. We drive across Wyoming and Idaho once a year and since the speed limit is 75, we keep it between 75-79 and get an average of about 27-28mpg (which makes sense due to the higher speeds) depending on the wind. You pretty much have to drive at least 75 or you get ran over by semis (hypermilers would be in danger on these highways).

#8 of 8 Re: 01 montana intake gaskets [neustkg] by willy30

Jan 09, 2011 (3:18 pm)

Replying to: neustkg (Jan 09, 2011 11:21 am)
I have to clarify that I was doing 60 mph most of the time, on repeated long trips and this is in Imperial gallons, which are larger than U.S. Gals., also using nothing but Shell gasoline. Alas I can't seem to recover my former fuel mileage.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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